Steam-trap



UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. WEST, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN..

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,592, dated July197, 1883.

Application tied Maren 241.1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- -Be it known that I, FRANcIs H. WEsT, ofMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Traps; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to devices for removing the water of condensationfrom steam coils and pipes; and it consists of a device located entirelywithin the system of pipes to be drained, or in a continuation of thesame, having an expansion-rod connected by`a lever to a valve closingsolely by gravity, and by this means taking up the lost motion at thepivotal points, all as will be more particularly set forth hereinafter.l y

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional view of the preferred form ofmy entire device; andA 'Fig 2 is a similar view of a modification ofpart thereof.

A is a short section of steam-pipe in a vertical position, having aconnecting-elbow, B, screwed upon its upper end. The lower end of thepipe A is connected by another elbow, C, to a short horizontal sectionof steam-pipe, D, and at the outer end of this last named pipe isattached another elbow, E, which receives the upper end of a verticalsection of pipe, E, the top of which forms a seat for the gravityvalveF', to be hereinafter described, the said elbow being closed at the topby a screw-plug, E, of ordinary construction.

G is an expansion-rod, made of brass or of some metal having greaterexpansive force than iron, and is located inside of the pipe A. Itsupper end receives a screw-cap, G, by which it is connected to theswivel-head h of a screw, H, that passes yup through a bushing, B',screwing into the top of the elbow B, and is there provided with awasher and secured by a nut, h. To the lower end of this rod G ispivoted by bolt I the lever K, the short arm of which has its fulcrum onthe bolt L at the inner end of a screw, M, which passes through a plug,N, screwing into the outer end of the elbow C, the said fulcrum-pointbeing thereby made adjustable, while the farther end of the long arm ofthe lever K carries the gravity-valve F, pivoted thereto by bolt O, asshown.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by turning the screw H downthe expansionrod G willgloe forced down and with it the lever K and thevalve F', while by turning the screw up a reverse result will beobtained, a barely-perceptible movement of the rod G, where it ispivoted to the valve-lever K, serving to make a very decided movement ofthe valve F, and thus regulating its set. The valve F, when open (whichis its normal or primary condition, as is represented by dotted lines inFig. 1) and hanging upon the long` arm of the lever K, has aconstanttendency to close, caused solely by its own gravity, and therebyit takes up any lost motion that otherwise might occur from loose jointsat the pivotal points'of its leverV K, and this is a very decidedadvantage and improvement over other devices now in use, resembling myinvention in other respects. The play of the valve F may be increased bylengthening the rod G, or by lengthening the lever K, or by shorteningthe distance fromV the fulcrum to the point where the rod G is attachedto the lever K, orv

by all, of these means, or by any of them.

The operation of the trap is as follows: Set the trap so that theexpansion-rod G will be in a perpendicular position 5 attach thesteam-pipe to the elbow B; set the valve E so that it will hang openfrom its seat the required distance when the trap is cold. When hotwater or steam reaches the expansion-rod, a slight eX- pansion of thesame will lower the lever K, permitting the valve to close, retainingthe water until it begins to cool, which will cause a slight contractionof the expansion-rod, raising the lever and valve and letting the waterescape, and this operation will continue automatically. The valve may beset to close at any desired temperature, and it will remain closed aslong as the same or a higher temperture obtains, commencing to open assoon as a lower temperature is reached. After the valve is closed, alittle lost motion at the pivotal points will not be a disadvantage, asin case there is further expansion of the rod it will now be spent inpassing this lost motion, and thus relieve the parts of any unduestrain. This lost motion will all be taken up again by the time thetemperature is lowered to the point it was when the valve closed, whenall parts will be IOO taut and in condition for positive action on thevalve as soon as a still lower temperature is reached.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modication of the screw which serves to raiseor lower the eX- pansion-rod G. Here, instead of using a screw withswivel-connections to the said rod, I have shown a differential screw,II', passing through the top of the elbow B by screw-threads of onegage, and into the upper end of the rod G by threads of a diiierentgage, and by turning the screw down or up the expansion-rod will beforced down or drawn up just the difference that there is between thegage in the threads in the elbow B and the gage in the threads where itscrews into the top of the expansioibrod G, and thus anexceedingly-delicate adjustment can be obtained.

I am aware that expansionrods and valvelevers have been used in theconstruction of steam-traps apparently similar to my invention, but aclose examination of the details will show a wide difference in theirpractical operations. In some of these, for instance, the expansion-rodhas been attached to the valve lever outside of the fulcrum; but thehanging of the lever to the expansion-rod between the valve and thefulcrum, as in my arrangement, gives the expansive motion of the rod andthe motion of the valve the same direction, and causes the valve, whenpendent, to take up all lost motion at the pivotal points in itstendency to close by gravity. When it is considered that an ordinaryexpansion-rod of sixteen inches in length will expand but about oneonehundredth of an inch more than the iron in which it is incased, onlypart of which eX- pansion can be made available in practice, it will beseen how essential it is to prevent the slightest loss of motion at thefulcrum or at the pivotal point of the rod with the lever. Heretoforethe failure to so pivot as to overcome this slight loss of motion, whichis sure to occur, especially after a little wear, has been found topartially or wholly :neutralize the eX- pansion of the rod, and evenwhere the rod and valve-lcver have been connected in a manner moreclosely resembling my device the valve has not been attached, so far asknown to me, so as to close solely by gravity, and hence my advantagesin the matter of taking up lost motion have not been gained. In somecases a slide-valve has been used; but, obviously, this is open to allthe objections named,

with the additional objection of requiring a chamber for its movements,which chamber forms a lodging-place for sediment, requiring a blow-oii`cock for cleaning it out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

I. The combination of the pipe A, elbow B, having bushing B,expansion-rod G, screwcap G', screw H, with swivel-head h, confined andadapted to operate between the top of the expansion-rod and the head ofthe screwcap, and nut hf, substantially as shown and described, and forthe purposes Set forth.

2. In a steam-trap having ordinary vertical and horizontal pipes andelbows, the combination of the gravity-valve F', suspended by pivot Ofrom one end of the lever, the other end of which is connected by pivotL to a screw-plug, M, and the expansion-rod G, provided at top with anadjusting-screw passing through the elbow above the vertical pipeL andconnected at the lower end by pivot I to i lever K, between the pivots Land O, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, onthis 23d day ol' March, 1883, in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS H. XVEST.

Vitnesses:

H. G. UNDERwooD, M. KAUMHEIMER.

